Baldwin – On Tuesday, July 25, during the annual Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) conference, Terri Vanias, Executive Assistant & Facilities Manager at Family Health Care (FHC), was the recipient of the 2017 MPCA Distinguished Service Award. Terri was nominated by her peers for her significant contributions to the success of Family Health Care during the past year and throughout her career.​“It’s always nice to be recognized, but what an honor at a state association conference,” said Terri. “A lot of what I do is ‘behind the scenes’, so I appreciate the acknowledgement of my work.”

Terri has been working at Family Health Care since 2003, and in that time has ensured the many administrative duties that cross her desk are all handled with professionalism and efficiency. She a former President and the current secretary of Baldwin Rotary, and has made great strides with writing and being awarded a grant that has provided funds to raise awareness of Rotary in Lake County.

“I’ve held a variety of titles over of the years, but no matter my title, I find pleasure in my work knowing it helps our patients and communities,” stated Terri, “We have such great staff who genuinely care for our patients and since my family and I are also patients, I witness their compassion first hand.”

Terri has been invaluable coordinating the activities of FHC’s Baldwin construction project, which added 1,900 square feet to the building. She also oversees the maintenance and housekeeping throughout all nine locations.

“Terri’s heart is here at Family Health Care,” said Kathy Sather, President and CEO of Family Health Care. “She is a giving individual, always caring about those details that make a big difference in demonstrating to others the quality of being part of the team.”

Through the organization’s many changes in its 50 years in service, Terri can tell you most of what you need to know and where you can find it. She is an indispensable and unique person who you can always trust to be there when you need her.

Please help Family Health Care in congratulating Terri on her 2017 Distinguished Service Award.

WHITE CLOUD – Native American dance, food, crafts and more will be featured at the White Cloud Purple Heart Pow Wow on Aug. 5-6, the 19th edition of a landmark cultural event in Newaygo County and the region. The event starts around noon on both days, with the colorful Grand Entry of flags, staffs and dancers in regalia at 1 p.m. and 6pm on Saturday, Aug. 5, and noon on Sunday, Aug. 6.​There will be a special VFW flag raising ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday with an honorary fly over. All are welcome to attend this special event honoring all veterans.

The Pow Wow will be held just west of downtown White Cloud, near 286 E. Baseline Road, just west of Sycamore Road.

“Dancing is the main attraction at the Pow Wow, so there will be a lot of that with people dancing until dusk, plus outstanding food and arts and craft vendors from all over, representing many tribes and nations,” said Gene Reid, event manager. “Everyone is welcome to join and be a part of our celebration. You don’t have to be Native American or a veteran. The camaraderie is a sight to behold and it’s a time for people from all over to come together. The Pow Wow is for everyone in our community to have fun, learn about different cultures and ask questions.”

More than 75 people in traditional regalia will dance during the event, which typically attracts more than 1,000 people. All people of any culture or ethnic origin are invited to join in and dance during specified “inter-tribal” dances. It is a way for everyone to take part in the dance circle together.

The event is sponsored by the Military Order of the Purple Heart. A Purple Heart recipient himself, decorated for valor during his service in Vietnam, Reid is a member of the Mohawk tribe, which is part of the Iroquois nation. Reid said the White Cloud Pow Wow attracts participants from many tribes, from as far away as South Carolina and New York, even Canada.

Admission for the event is $4 for adults and $3 for seniors and children 6-12. Kids younger than 5 get in free. Dogs are not allowed on the Pow Wow grounds and participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Reid said organizers will strictly enforce prohibitions banning drugs and alcohol from the event.

Amy Kurnat, Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial clinical risk manager, and Nate Stadt, donor services team lead with Michigan Blood, and Tom Bisson, a donor who drove from Muskegon to give blood in support of 11-year-old Tegan Rose.

Blood drive draws from near and farFremont– Donors came from as far away as Muskegon on Friday to do their small part and help a total stranger they’ve never met, an 11-year-old girl with a special need.

Tegan Rose of Spring Lake has leukemia and requires a much-needed transfusion. The challenge: Tegan has O-negative blood, a rare blood group that only 5 percent of the world’s population is estimated to have.

To help find a match, Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial teamed up with Michigan Blood to host a special blood drive on Friday, July 14 – and the public’s response was overwhelming, exceeding even the most optimistic expectations of staff working during the blood drive.

“I think many of us were expecting 15 people to show up, which is on the high end for blood drives, so imagine our surprise when more than 30 people came to give blood,” said Julie Ward, manager of Gerber Memorial lab services who helped coordinate the blood drive. “We had lines of people waiting to donate blood, and that just goes to show how generous West Michigan is.”

Amy Rotter, Community Relations Coordinator at Michigan Blood said that even though more than one-third of people are able to donate, only 3 to 4 percent of them actually give blood. That can make it difficult for people, especially those with rare blood types, to get the lifesaving transfusions they need.

Rotter said that’s what happened in the case of Tegan, who had to wait several hours for a blood transfusion when there wasn't enough of her blood type in stock.

“It's thanks to blood donors that people like Tegan are able to keep going,” Rotter said. “And at the Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial blood drive, donors really stepped up to help Michiganders across the state. Gerber Memorial, along with the more than 60 others across the state, rely on blood donors to provide their patients with lifesaving blood products.”

Michigan Blood expected 15 donors, an average number. More than 30 people registered, and 15 of those were first-time donors. Each donation can save up to three lives, so more than 80 Michigan lives could potentially be saved as a result of the generous donations Friday.

Rotter thanked all the donors who gave blood on Friday.

One of those donors on Friday was Cheri Shears of Fremont.

Shears said: “Every time that I try to give blood my iron is too low and I am unable to. However, today was a different story. I am O-Negative and they were able to take my blood. I was prompted to come today because of Tegan’s story. It feels good knowing that I am making a difference.”

Tom Bisson drove all the way from Muskegon. Bisson said: “I saw the call for O-Negative blood and Tegan’s story online and drove up from Muskegon to make a donation. I used to give blood on a regular basis and haven’t lately so it feels good to give to someone in need.”https://donate.miblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/95126

Spread kindness and be a part of an ArtPrize entry! The 'Kindness–Newaygo County' project is providing Kindness Camp for Newaygo County youth, grades K-8, which will include lessons for youth to learn ways of being kind, show empathy, share their ideas on kindness and use their creative skills through a project that will be included in artist Jane Stroschin's ArtPrize entry this fall.

"One of the most important social skills involved in bullying prevention is empathy, understanding and responding with caring to what others think and feel. Young people are less likely to hurt and more likely to help someone if they can imagine themselves in that person’s place" stated Lori Tubbergen-Clark, NCRESA Superintendent. "When students better understand themselves, they can better understand others. As adults, we can assist our youth in the development of empathy and kindness by encouraging them through the art and experiences of 'Kindness-Newaygo County'."

Conceived and executed by Newaygo County artist Jane Stroschin, the project 'Kindness-Newaygo County' is both one women’s artistic vision and an interactive county-wide multimedia work that attempts to raise awareness about bullying, by inviting those who experience it to engage in empathy and kindness. Stroschin is partnering with Spectrum Gerber Hospital, NCCA-Artsplace, and Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency (NC RESA) and K-12 students throughout the NC RESA service area in Newaygo County on this collaborative project.

With the purpose of art being, among other things, to provoke emotions and invoke wonder while communicating a certain set of ideas, the 'Kindness-Newaygo County' project is a presentation intended to speak to viewer’s hearts and minds.

Stroschin’s work will be six 4'x8' acrylic painted canvases and six 5' tall free-standing displays of shoes, artfully decorated by Newaygo County students, with all pieces emphasizing the theme "Walk a Mile in My Shoes....Be Kind". The shoe displays were created by students from Newaygo County Career Tech Center. Stroschin’s paintings and the accompanying artful shoe displays will be presented at each Newaygo County elementary school in early September, then on to ArtPrize September 20 – October 8!

As part of their activities, students in Kindness Camp will embellish a variety of shoes in artful ways that Stroschin will include as part of her ArtPrize 2017 entry. With her themes of "Be Kind" and "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" in her artwork, the shoes will complement her work and add a youthful spirit to the entry.

Kindness Camp will be held in two sessions, Tuesday July 25 and Tuesday, August 1, each from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. The location will be the Newaygo County Career-Tech Center in Fremont. There is no fee to participate, but registration is required. Please call 231.924.8807 for more information and to register.

“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”-Henry James

If you ever want to see magic happen give a group of kids and adults free painting supplies, a flat surface to work on, and a bunch of smooth rocks and tell them to use their imagination.

This past Saturday local kids and parents met at 11:00 AM at the Trail Side Pavilion in the White Cloud Campground and Park for a free rock painting event. It was a perfect balmy summer day and about 80 painters, parents and wait staff gathered at the Pavilion to paint rocks.

Fremont– The Hesperia United Methodist Church women’s group on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, made a donation of 55 bags that contained snacks, activities, cards and other items to cancer patients at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial. The thirty-one brand bags also double as a thermal bag. In addition, the 15 women who helped with the bags also made 55 bone pillows to comfort and support these patients. These donated gifts are already being distributed to patients.​“We are always looking for community missions that we can help people with. We make all kinds of things” said Joan Graff, a member of the Church who helped organize the project. The gifts were sponsored by numerous groups and individuals in the area. Other than volunteering for Gerber Memorial, Joan and her team plan to dedicate their 2017 mission outreach to the homeless population of Newaygo County, which is estimated to number more than 500 people.

Fremont–Tamarac and Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial will spotlight fun family activities and information that focus on fitness and personal wellness during the National Baby Food Festival in downtown Fremont.​“We’re thrilled to share activities and information through ‘Fitness at the Festival’ that can help families in our community have fun together and make fitness and wellness part of their daily lives,” said Amanda Irwin, wellness center manager. “Tamarac and Gerber Memorial have resources and support services for people at every stage of their lives in terms of health and wellness, and being able to bring some of those to the National Baby Food Festival is exciting. We’re grateful to the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce and all our community partners for their hard work on the National Baby Food Festival. We encourage everyone to stop by ‘Fitness at the Festival’ and check out these fun fitness classes.”

On Wednesday, July 19, Tamarac and Gerber Memorial will be at the Kids Expo from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Featured will be childbirth education, sweatbands and a kidspush-up competition, as well as information about community wellness and an assortment of giveaways.

Also Wednesday, Tamarac will feature Kids ZUMBA at 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Fit Family from 4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

On Thursday, July 20, Gerber Memorial will participate in the NBFF Business Expo 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. And from 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tamarac will feature POUND, a cardio-jam session inspired by the energizing fun of playing drums.

On Friday, July 21, Tamarac will showcase the fitness bootcamp from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.

The Fitness at the Festival activities will take place at Veterans Memorial Park and all fitness levels are welcome.

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) of Fremont Area Community Foundation was recently awarded the 2017 Grant of the Year Award by the Council of Michigan Foundations and the Michigan Community Foundations Youth Project Committee.

The award recognized YAC for its $27,500 grant to the Newaygo County Area Promise Zone. Rob Collier, president and CEO of the Council of Michigan Foundations, presented the award during the closing session of the 25th-annual Youth Grantmakers Summer Leadership Conference on June 25.

Three YAC members and two advisors from the Community Foundation attended the weekend conference at Central Michigan University, along with other youth philanthropists from across Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

The grant supports Promise Zone scholarships and a tuition-free path to college education for local students. At the grant presentation to the Promise Zone Authority Board in January, YAC member Sydney Noordyk shared that the committee was proud to support something that would directly impact the futures of Newaygo County students.

“This is one of the most exciting grants we’ve made,” said Noordyk. “The Promise Zone will have a big impact on us for years to come.”

YAC is a student-run committee focused on meeting the needs of Newaygo County youth through grantmaking and service learning. The committee is comprised of 25 high school students representing Fremont, Grant, Hesperia, Newaygo, and White Cloud public high schools as well as the homeschooling community.

Special Gerber Memorial blood drive this Friday to help West Michigan girlFremont, Mich.– Summer is a time when blood donations are at their lowest. To help meet the need, Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial is hosting a special blood drive on Friday, July 14, between 7a.m. and 1 p.m. to help one special girl who needs help right away.

The Blood Bus is coming to Fremont with hopes of helping 11-year-old Tegan Rose from Spring Lake. Just days before her birthday, Tegan was diagnosed with leukemia. Prior to undergoing her much-needed blood transfusion, she learned that she has a rare blood type: O-negative. She is only able to receive O-negative blood and Tegan is left waiting for blood to be donated in order for her to undergo the transfusion. That’s why Michigan Blood is working to get enough donations to help people just like Tegan.

The bus will be parked in the circle between the hospital and the professional building that houses the Multispecialty Clinic.

In addition to donors knowing they could potentially help save a life, everyone who attempts to donate will receive a $3 coupon to the Sullivan Street Café on the first floor of Gerber Memorial. People who donate twice between July 10 and Oct. 31 will be entered for a chance to win a Yeti cooler filled with Michigan-made merchandise.

Michigan Blood is the primary provider of blood and blood products for more than 60 hospitals in Michigan, including Spectrum Health. Donations given outside of Michigan Blood do not have direct local impact. Donating blood with Michigan Blood helps save the lives of patients in Michigan hospitals. Any healthy person 17 or older (or 16 with parental consent) who weighs at least 112 pounds may be eligible to donate, although females age 18 and under must weigh 120 pounds or more.

White Cloud County Park is hosting a rock painting day on Saturday, July 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the park pavilion. The event is free and sponsored by Rockin NC (Newaygo County), Newaygo County Parks & Recreation, City of White Cloud and Newaygo County Welcome Center.

Painted rocks are popping up all over Newaygo County bringing smiles to the finders and displaying lots of creativity from both adults and children as part of a local effort to encourage kids to be more active.

Rockin NC is the result of a family vacation to Florida where Kimberly Howland’s children had a lot of fun finding the painted rocks. “I am always looking for cheap, fun things to do,” Howland said. “We started with a goal of 100 rocks and wanted to put at least two in every city and township in Newaygo County. In just a few weeks it has grown to more than 2,000 participants on the Facebook page.”

Howland said that many families might find it difficult to buy paint and brushes and still want to participate. If you find a rock, you may keep it or rehide it but take a picture and post it to RockinNewaygoCounty so they painter knows it has been found. If you keep it, it is encouraged that you hide a different one so there are always plenty to find.

To re-hide a rock make sure it is outside, visible and not hidden under something and must be in a place that is easy to get to, safe and not where it could be considered a nuisance. Don’t hide it in the grass that has to be mowed. Rocks are provided by Mellema Nursery.

That’s when Newaygo County Parks and the city of White Cloud saw the popularity and thought of a great way to encourage people to get out and use the parks.“This is a great opportunity for families to do things together and to get kids off the couch or way from their electronics,” Howland said.

“Wear clothes that won’t be ruined with a little paint,” said Parks Director Nicholas D. Smith. “We will have rocks and paint. Rocks can be hidden immediately in the park or other places in Newaygo County.”​For more information, contact Newaygo County Parks at 231-689-7340 or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NCParks/